Stars Rally for Kennington’s Cinema Museum This Autumn
A Kennington Landmark Fighting to Stay Put
Tucked into the chapel of a former workhouse in Kennington, the Cinema Museum is one of those places that makes you wonder why more people don’t know about it. The building once housed a young Charlie Chaplin, who spent time in the workhouse system as a boy long before he stepped in front of a camera. That connection gives the site a weight few cinemas or galleries can match, and it is a reminder that south London has been part of the story of early film for longer than many of us realise.
For a time, the museum’s future looked uncertain. Its home was under threat, and the fight to keep it there went through the courts. The good news is that the museum has now won the legal battle and can remain where it is. The remaining challenge is financial: raising enough money to buy the building it occupies, so that its collection of projectors, posters, costumes and memorabilia has a permanent footing. For a neighbourhood that values its independent cultural spaces, that matters. Losing a venue like this would mean losing a rare piece of London’s visual heritage, and it would strip Kennington of one of its most distinctive attractions. It is also a genuinely good day out, whether you are a lifelong film buff or simply curious about where cinema began.
The Famous Faces Rallying Behind the Museum
The museum has an unusually well-connected circle, and over October and November several of its friends from the worlds of film and television are stepping up to help. The programme opens on 31 October with a Halloween disco, where Toby Jones, the star of Detectorists and Mr Bates vs The Post Office, and Ben Miles, best known as Peter Townsend in The Crown, will be spinning the tunes. Costumes are encouraged, so expect a lively crowd of local film lovers in fancy dress.
On 1 November, First Scares offers a double bill of conversations with Joanna Scanlan, Mark Gatiss and Lesley Manville about horror films, childhood nightmares and the things that really get under our skin. Sessions can be booked separately or together as a twofer. The following evening, critic Mark Kermode is joined by composer and broadcaster Neil Brand to discuss film soundtracks, with a horror theme suggested by the event title.
Brand returns on 22 November for an evening marking 100 years since Laurel and Hardy made their first film together. Lesser-known shorts from their back catalogue, including You’re Darn Tootin’ (1928), The Finishing Touch (1928) and The Second Hundred Years (1927), will be screened with Brand accompanying them on live improvised piano. For the volunteers and staff who keep the museum running, these events bring vital attention and income, and they show how much goodwill the venue has built up in the film world.
What Locals Should Know and How to Get Involved
If you live in Kennington or nearby, the simplest way to help is to come along. Booking a ticket to one of these events puts money directly towards the building fund, and the Halloween disco is a fun way to meet neighbours on a weeknight. If the First Scares or Laurel and Hardy evenings sell out, it is worth checking whether the museum adds extra dates or repeat screenings, as it often does for popular programmes.
You don’t need to wait for a celebrity event to visit. The Cinema Museum runs regular guided tours and screenings throughout the year, so it is a good option for a rainy weekend, a visiting friend or a family outing. Check the museum’s listings before you go, as times and availability change. Spreading the word matters too. Recommending the museum to friends, sharing the event listings on local community pages, or leaving a review helps a small independent venue reach people who may not have heard of it.
Keep an eye on updates over the coming months. The campaign to buy the building is the next big milestone, and the museum is likely to share progress as donations come in. Whether you are a film fan, a horror enthusiast or simply someone who enjoys a bit of history with your evening out, this autumn offers a rare chance to support a Kennington treasure while enjoying one of London’s most unusual museums.
Source: Toby Jones DJs At A Halloween Disco, As Celebrities Come Out In Force For Cinema Museum
Fans planning to visit London cinema landmarks this autumn can pair a trip to Kennington’s Cinema Museum with a screening at a nearby historic venue.
